Firing equipment for simulating gunfire

ABSTRACT

Firing equipment for simulating gunfire having a plurality of firing cups for accommodating pyrotechnic devices and each firing cup is associated with a separate detonating device to be set off by control apparatus.

United States Patent Hoffmann 1 51 Jan. 23, 1973 15 1 FIRING EQUIPMENT FOR 2,523,408 9/1950 Williford ..102/702 R SIMULATING GUNFIRE 2,542,794 2/1951 Brown ..102/70.2 R 2,755,432 7/1956 Arps et a1. 102/702 R 111VI1IOTI Oswald Hoffmann, LlntOI'f, 2,836,919 95 Du Bois "42/111 Germany 3,133,231 5/1964 Fail et a1. ..1()2/70.2 R

[73] Assignee: Hoffman-Werke J. Oswald Hoffman,

Li t f Germany Primary Examiner-Verlin R. Pendegrass Attorney-Watson, Cole, Grindle & Watson [22] Filed: Sept. 16, 1970 [21] App1.N0.: 72,669

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Pnonty Data Firing equipment for simulating gunfire having a plu- SepL23, 1969 Germany ..P 19 47 989.1 rality of firing cups for accommodating pyrotechnic devices and each firing cup is associated with a [52] US. Cl. ..l02/70.2 R, 42/1 R separate detonaflng device be set Off by control apl] ..F42C 19/12 paratus. [58] Field of Search 102/702; 42/1 4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.331.058 /1943 Stick .lr ..102/70.2 R

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PATENTEDJAN23 ma 3,712,230

+ oufp INVENTOR: OJ M3261 1405 7111 BYI iar/ 1m FIRING EQUIPMENT FOR SIMULATING GUNFIRE This invention relates to firing equipment for simulating gunfire and is an improvement in or modification of the invention disclosed in the U.S. application, Ser. No. 702,607, filed Feb. 2, 1968, and issued on Oct. 27, 1970 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,535,809.

According to the invention, firing equipment for simulating gunfire comprises a plurality of firing cups for accommodating, pyrotechnic devices securely mounted on a support member, each firing cup being associated with a separate detonating device which can be set off, as selected, by means of control apparatus, in which the support member is connected to a holder having portions which, in use, abut against a gun-barrel, which holder is adjustable such that it may be mounted on gun-barrels of different diameters.

When the firing equipment in accordance with that which is disclosed in the aforementioned Patent is used in conjunction with guns firing armour-piercing shells, with anti-tank guns and with similar weapons, it is often desirable to be able to set off the individual detonating devices by means of the release contacts already present on these weapons. This is particularly necessary if the gunner does not have a hand free for actuating the control apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided firing equipment for simulating gunfire including a plurality of firing cups for accommodating pyrotechnic devices, each firing cup being associated with a separate detonating device which can be set off by means of control apparatus which includes a stepping switch actuable by the release contact ofa gun to route successive detonating impulses to different firing cups.

Thus, the invention allows an arrangement wherein each time the release contact of the gun is actuated, one of the detonating devices is set off, and at the same time the next shot is prepared by means of the stepping Conveniently conveniently the stepping switch can be constructed to operate cyclically, and can comprise a moving contact engageable with any one of a plurality of output contacts, each connected to one of the detonating devices. The stepping switch can include at least one additional output contact connected to a warning means for indicating that the equipment is ready for operation.

A convenient form of cyclically operable stepping switch can be obtained by making the moving contact rotatable, the output contacts being arranged in at least part of a circle centered on the axis of rotation of the moving contact. Expediently a manually operable impulse emitting means can be provided for actuating the stepping switch so that the stepping switch can be switched to a position in which the system is ready for operation.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a connection diagram for the control apparatus of the invention.

Connectors 100 and 102 are connected to the release contact (not i|lustrated) for a gun, connector 102 being' associated with a negative lead 104, whereas connector 100 is associated, by way of a key-operated contact set 106, with the energizing coil 108 of a stepping switch. The energizing coil 108 can also be switched to the positive lead 112 by means of a handoperated impulse-emitting means 110, contact 1060 being normally closed.

The stepping switch comprises a moving contact 114 which is actuated by the energizing coil 108, i. e., is rotated in the direction of the arrow, and which in the ready position as illustrated applies voltage to a warning lamp 116 through the output contact 118. When the impulse-emitting means is actuated, the moving contact 114 is rotated one step as each impulse is sent, until it reaches the ready position again. During this procedure, the moving contact 114 successively connects the output contacts 120, 121 30 to the positive lead, but detonation of pyrotechnic devices does not occur since the working contact l06b interrupts the negative lead to the detonating devices, the other supply lead of which is connected to one of the outputs each time.

After the contact set 106 has been actuated by means of a key 132, the lead to the impulse-emitting means 110 is first interrupted, since the normally closed contact 106a is opened. Continuation of the switching operation can therefore now only take place bymeans of the impulses passed through the connectors 100 and 102 from the release contact of the gun, the connection of which to the energizing coil 108 is achieved by closing of the working contact 10611. Furthermore, the working contact 106d connects the negative lead 104 to the detonating devices, which are not illustrated, and the working contact 106a closes the current circuit of a warning light l34for indicating that the equipment is prepared for firing. When an impulse is sent by the release contact of the gun, the moving contact of the stepping switch moves one step along to contact the output contact 120. The pyrotechnic device associated with the detonating device connected to the output contact 12 is thus detonated. At the same time a control lamp 120' lights up, and the ready signal given by the warning lamp 116 is extinguished. Upon further actuation of the release contact one pyrotechnic device is fired after another in a sequence determined by the outputs 121 130, until the moving contact 114 has completed one revolution. The control lamps 121' 130 associated with the other outputs light up in a corresponding sequence. The

lamps 120' 130 are fitted in a line on the front side of the control apparatus, so that the control lamps to the left of the control lamp that has just lit up indicate which pyrotechnic devices have been fired, and those control lamps to the right indicate the pyrotechnic devices still in hand. Other arrangements are of course possible and, in certain cases, preferable.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for controlling the sequential firing of a number of pyrotechnic devices for simulating gunfire in response to trigger signals generated by operation of the gun trigger, comprising:

a DC. voltage source;

a connector for receiving said trigger signals;

a stepping switch including a number of output contacts individually providing a firing signal for a respective one of said pyrotechnic devices, a center terminal connected to one terminal of said DC. voltage source, a rotating contact member for sequentially interconnecting said center terminal with a respective one of said number of output contacts, and coil means for rotating said contact member;

key means interconnecting said connector and said voltage source with said coil for actuating said apparatus, said key means having an operative and an inoperative position and including first, second, third and fourth switch contacts, said first, second and third switch contacts are open and said fourth switch contact is closed with said key means in said inoperative position, said first, second and third switch contacts are closed and said fourth switch contact is open with said key means in said operative position;

an additional output terminal;

means for manually advancing said rotating contact member, said fourth switch contact connection said one terminal of said DC. voltage source to said coil means with said key means inoperative;

a first indicator for indicating said operative and inoperative positions of said key means;

said first switch contact connects said first indicator to said DC. voltage source terminals, said second switch contact connects said additional output terminal to the other terminal of said DC. voltage number of indicators each individually connected to a respective one of said output contacts for indicating said firing signal for a respective one of said pyrotechnic devices.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said stepping switch includes an additional output contact and further comprising an additional indicator connected between said additional output contact and the other terminal of said voltage source for indicating a starting position of said stepping switch.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said stepping switch includes an additional output contact and further comprising an additional indicator connected between said additional output contact and the other terminal of said voltage source for indicating a starting position of said stepping switch. 

1. Apparatus for controlling the sequential firing of a number of pyrotechnic devices for simulating gunfire in response to trigger signals generated by operation of the gun trigger, comprising: a D.C. voltage source; a connector for receiving said trigger signals; a stepping switch including a number of output contacts individually providing a firing signal for a respective one of said pyrotechnic devices, a center terminal connected to one terminal of said D.C. voltage source, a rotating contact member for sequentially interconnecting said center terminal with a respective one of said number of output contacts, and coil means for rotating said contact member; key means interconnecting said connector and said voltage source with said coil for actuating said apparatus, said key means having an operative and an inoperative position and including first, second, third and fourth switch contacts, said first, second and third switch contacts are open and said fourth switch contact is closed with said key means in said inoperative position, said first, second and third swiTch contacts are closed and said fourth switch contact is open with said key means in said operative position; an additional output terminal; means for manually advancing said rotating contact member, said fourth switch contact connection said one terminal of said D.C. voltage source to said coil means with said key means inoperative; a first indicator for indicating said operative and inoperative positions of said key means; said first switch contact connects said first indicator to said D.C. voltage source terminals, said second switch contact connects said additional output terminal to the other terminal of said D.C. voltage source, and said third switch contact connects said coil means to said connector with said key means in said operative position; whereby said contacting member is rotated successively to a different one of said number of output contacts in response to successive trigger signals.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a number of indicators each individually connected to a respective one of said output contacts for indicating said firing signal for a respective one of said pyrotechnic devices.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said stepping switch includes an additional output contact and further comprising an additional indicator connected between said additional output contact and the other terminal of said voltage source for indicating a starting position of said stepping switch.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said stepping switch includes an additional output contact and further comprising an additional indicator connected between said additional output contact and the other terminal of said voltage source for indicating a starting position of said stepping switch. 